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Solid hitting leads Hunter to milestone

Torii Hunter needed three hits to reach 2,000 for his career, and he got three in one game Tuesday.

The Pine Bluff native went 3 for 4 at home to help the Detroit Tigers beat the Toronto Blue Jays 7-3. He is the 14th active player in the major leagues with 2,000 or more hits.

According to mlive.com, Hunter, 37, received a standing ovation when he lined his 2,000th hit.

“That’s why I love it here,” he told mlive.com. “I feel like I’m at home. I don’t feel out of place and that’s why I’m playing well. And I really thank the fans for that.”

Hunter’s career total is now 2,003 after going 2 for 4 with three RBIs and two runs scored in Thursday’s series finale with Toronto, an 11-1 victory. Detroit lost 8-6 Wednesday.

This season, Hunter is batting .408 (17 for 42) with six RBIs through nine games. He has yet to hit a home run this season, standing three shy of 300 for his career.

He was acquired in November as a free agent with a reported two-year, $28 million deal. He fulfilled a five-year contract with the Los Angeles Angels, where he hit .313 with 16 home runs and 92 RBIs last year.

Asked about going for 3,000 career hits, which only 28 MLB players have done in history, Hunter told mlive.com: “I feel good. No aches, no pains. I feel great. But it depends if I want to. I don’t know if I want to or not. I might be ending my career here.”

Active MLB players with 2,000 or more hits

(Through Wednesday, according to baseball-reference.com. *—Total includes hits from Thursday.)